Electric incubator



WITNESS June 2, 1925. 1,540,433

A. J. STAFF ELECTRIC INCUBATOR Filed March 28, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /0 I6 26 j? v lll/fm "0"""1',

:Iwgg'f'fsm/L 'a Il, 9) G Q IIIIIIVQ?) ggfs@ l ATTORNEY June 2, 1925.

A. J. STAFF ELECTRIC INCUBATOR a 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 28,'1924 *muy INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS 1,540,433 A. J. STAFF Y ELECTRI C INCUBATOR June 2, 1925.

Fatented June 2, 1925.

UNITED srA-TES ANTHONY JOHN STAFF, OF COLOBADO SPRINGFCOLORADO.

ELECTRIC riioiinaron.

Application filed March 28, 1924-. VSerial No. 702,701.

To all whom t may cof/wem.'

Be it known that I, ANTHONY J. STAFF, a citizen of Austiia-l-ungary, residing at Colorado Springs, in the'countyof El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Incu* bators, of which the following is' aspecication. K y

Y rlhis invention relates to incubatore, Aand has for one of its chief characteristics, the

provision of a structure wherein chicks are son of this structure, the eggs are not driedv out abnormally, as in the case where warm air contacts with the whole area yof the eggs, thereby making the element of moisture unnecessary, even in dry climates.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed' descriptionis read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. v

In the drawings forming part of this ap-` plication, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view partly broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure L1 is a-detail view'of the heating element.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the egg tray.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view.`

The incubator forming the subject mat ter of the present invention consists of a box like body portion 10 which may or may not be supported by suitable'legs 11. The incubator is provided with a hinged cover 12 of substantially the same configuration as the body portion 10, the cover being normally latched to the body-portion -by any suitable means, such as indicated at 13. The bottom of the body portion includes oppositely inclined quarters or'sections 14 with the center lying in a plane beneath the` opposedside edges as clearly shownin Figure 2. Each section yof the bottom isr adapted to support one or more ofthe egg trays shown in Figure 5 and indicated at 15. Each tray is provided with a series of spaced parallel partitions 16, and arranged transversely of these partitions is a `series of spaced parallel coiled springs 17.4 The eggs indicated at 16 are adapted to be arranged in rows between each pair of springs 17 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 3. Arranged within the cover12 is a heating element in the nature of a rectangular frame of wire orthe likecovered by asbestos and upon which is wound a resistance wire A18. This heating element tis supported in any suitable manner within the cover 12, and directly above what I term a heat distributing element 19. This latter mentioned element preferably consists of a tanned animal skin arrangedwith the fur side 20 to contact the eggs when the cover is closed, so that the heat transmitted-from the heating element 18 will be conveyed tothe element 19, and uniformly distributed over the eggs supported by the'tray 15. The fur portion or side of the heating element only contacts` the adjacent surfaces of the eggs, so that' the heat enters vthe eggs from the top, or rather the point of location ofthe germ during incubation. It will be further noted that the heat distributing velement 19 is given the same shape or configuration as that ofthe bottom 14;, the highest point being at the corners of this element andthe lowest point culiar shape that the heat is moreevenly distributed over thev eggs. As above stated, the eggs rest between each pair of springs 17 forming part of the egg tray which holds the eggs against the fur side of the heat distributing element 19, with a slight pressure thereby assuring contact therewith, irrespective of the variation in the size of the eggs. Then again, these springs form a sort of trackway to permit the eggs to be turned with a minimum of time and effort, as it is only necessary to remove oneegg from each end of the row, to allow the remainder of the' eggs of said row to be roi-ndi and turned, after which the eggs'which have been removed are again placed on the tracl atv the Vends of the rvif. The heatdistributing elehen, by transmitting the heat to the upper surfaces of the eggs rather than heating air Which merelycirculates around the eggs andV contacts all points of their surfaces. It is by reason of the same fact as that just mentioned that the eggs do not dry out 'abnormally Which they do Where Warm airfcirculating about theeggs and contacting the entire area thereof is used, yfor incubation, and furthermore my method and structure eliminate the addition of moisture, Which is usually required in other incubators and more especially in dry climates.

The heating element 18 above referredto is of course included in circuit shovvnin diagrammatic vien7 wherein 22 represents a condenser. This circuit also embodies a thermostatically controlled circuit breaker wherein the iXed contact is indicated at 23, and the movable contact at 24;. .This latter mentioned contact is carried by an arm 25 arranged in the path of movement of a` shaft 26 having an insulated covering 27 `on its free end. This shaft 26is connected tothe movable side of thethermo'stat 28, the opposite' side of Which is supported by a shaft 29 which is threaded for a portion of its length as at 30, and- Which threaded portion is threaded through an opening in a plate 3l arranged Within the cover 12. It is obvious that as the heat reaches a predetermined temperature Within the incubator, causing an expansion of the thermostat 28, that the shaft 26 is moved'again-st the arm 25v to separate theV contact 24; from Vthe contactv 23 .thereby break-ing the circuit, rThe degree of temperaturenecessary to break this circuit can be easily regulated by adjusting the thermostat 28 'throughthe instrumental-ity of the shaft 29,` the other end of which is equi-ppedivith a ln'1ob'32A for this purpose.

. Supported on the side of the coverl is al graduated dial 33 and carried by the knob 32 is an indicating finger 34 Yso that a more accurate adjustment ca'n -bev made Also included in circuitrand connected in series with the heating' element are electric light bulbs 34, the Wiresfor which are indicated at 26.

VVl'iile Yit is believed that from the fore-l going description, the nature and adva tag/es ofthe invention Will be readily appa ent, I desire to have it understood that I o not limit myself toivhat is herein shown and described, andthat such changes may be resorted to when desired a-s fall within the scope of ivhat is claimed.

VHaving thus described the invention, I claim: Y, y

1. An Vincubator, comprising va box like body portion and including a. bottom having oppositely inclined sections, eggv trays adapted to be'supported onsaid bottom and including spaced parallel resilient- Yelements y between rsh-ich the eggs are supported, an

electric circuit, an electric heatingelement included in said circuit, automatically operable means for regulating the temperature of the incubator,a flexible heat distributing element vhaving a fur side arranged to contact the yadjacent surface of said eggs, whereby the heat is uniformly distribi'ted .from said heating element tothe eggs, said resilient elements; of the egg tray supporting the eggs with a slight pressure against said heat distributing element, said' element having a configuration similar to that 'of said bottom.

l2. An lincubator comprising a bo'XY lille body portion, and a hinged cover, said body portion including a bottom havingv oppositely inclined sections Witlr the corners constitutingA the highest points, eggwtrays adapted to be supported by said bottom, an electric circuit, a heating element included in said circuit and supported Within the cover, a flexible heat distril'nitingy element supported by the cover directly beneath said heating element and' having a configura-tion similar to that of the bottom, said Vheating element consisting' of an animal sl''iii having its fur arranged to contact the adjacent surfaces of the eggs and thereby convey the heat from the heating element tothe ysaid eggs uniformly, an electric light bulb connected in parallel with said heating element, a circuit breaker, and thermostatic'ally operated means for controlling said circuit breaker, said means being adjustable Where by the incubator can be maintained at any desired temperature. i

In testimony whereoffI a'figmy signature.

ANTHONY JOHN STAFF. 

